Craig Koester, Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, responds to the question, "What does hope look like?" with reflection on his lifetime of study of the Book of Revelation.

He notes that in between the troubling images of strife and destruction that many associate with Revelation, "every few chapters you're taken into the presence of God and into a worshiping community in which God is raised as Creator ... and this cosmic circle of praise for the wellbeing that God provides."

Craig Koester, Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, responds to the question, "Is the end near?" with reflection on his lifetime of study of the Book of Revelation. Koester traces the roots of rapture theology back to John Nelson Darby and explores the problems with this theology.

“Do angels still exist today?” Of course they do. Can you imagine God telling the heavenly host of angels, “You’re all done with your work”?

Much to my surprise, and probably to the surprise of those who know me, I have become somewhat of an authority on angels. It started with a sermon, which led to a seminary course for lay people, which in turn led to …

Craig Koester provides a fascinating explanation of the number 666 as used in Revelation 13. Watch this brief video to find out what this biblical numerical riddle might mean, and what John's message for his readers might have been.

What is heaven like? While I believe firmly in heaven, and I use the images of Revelation frequently in my hymns, what heaven will actually be like is beyond my imagination. If it has strained the poetic gifts and talents of two great poets, Dante and John Milton, who base their poetry on Scripture, it will be beyond my limited abilities to describe.